City v Red Bull: Stat attack

Qualification for the knock-out stages of the Europa League is tantalisingly close for City, and we’ve got more than a few statistics to hand that may point the way against Red Bull Salzburg.

The bare facts of the group table suggest that the Austrian side will go for it tonight, as anything less than a victory will see the visitors eliminated. Three points will send City through along with Lech Poznan if they beat Juventus in the section's other game.

We are unbeaten at home in nine European games, with FC Midtjylland the last continental side to win here in August 2008. Red Bull have not won in six in Europe, their last victory was a 4-1 win over AC Omonia in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

They have also not won in six away matches – three draws and three defeats – since a 1-0 victory at Villarreal in their final group stage game of last season’s Europa League. They are the joint lowest scorers in this season’s group stage, as along with Debreceni VSC they have notched just one goal.

Roberto Mancini only faced Austrian opposition once as a player, getting sent off just two minutes after scoring against Rapid Wien in the 97/98 UEFA Cup. His opposite number, Huub Stevens, guided Schalke 04 to the victory in the same competition the previous season and won the Austrian league at the first attempt with Red Bull earlier this year.

Patrick Vieira is, unsurprisingly, far and away the most experienced player available tonight, with 101 appearances in all European competitions. Shay Given is next, and he may add to his 69 European games as he did get the nod for the game in Poland. By contrast, Red Bull’s most experienced European campaigner is Milan Dudic with 45 appearances.

The Austrian outfit’s domestic form is good, and they come into tonight’s game on the back of three straight wins in which Roman Wallner has scored five times. Red Bull are currently third in the Austrian Bundesliga, five points behind table-topping SK Ried.

Tonight’s game will be controlled by officials from the Czech Republic, headed by referee Libor Kovarik.

MCFC.co.uk will have all the usual coverage of tonight’s game, including live text and radio commentary, photos and live statistics.